Schools ‘encouraging’ underage sex

Parent groups and education campaigners have slammed schools for giving pupils free condoms, saying it encourages youngsters to have sex

SCHOOLS have been criticised for encouraging underage sex by giving pupils free condoms.

Teenagers at secondary schools in Edinburgh and West Lothian have received the contraceptives, in a bid to curb unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases.

But parent groups and education campaigners say that the scheme encourages youngsters to have sex.

Broughton High School, in Edinburgh, North Berwick High School in East Lothian, Newbattle High School, in Midlothian and West Calder High School in West Lothian have given out contraceptives.

NHS Lothian was unable to say what age the pupils were who had received the contraceptives and whether they were over 16. The schools' sexual health clinics also offer pregnancy tests and testing for sexually transmitted diseases.

Free condoms have also been handed out to pupils at Sandwick Junior High School in Shetland under a one-year pilot scheme which is set to be extended to the seven other secondaries